Trucks: Significant redesigns for 2013, ’14 models

Call it the year of the truck. After a brutal half-decade of slow-moving sales and cautious manufacturers, 2013 is shaping up to be a great year for pickups.

Melissa Erickson%%GateHouse News Service

Call it the year of the truck.

After a brutal half-decade of slow-moving sales and cautious manufacturers, 2013 is shaping up to be a great year for pickups.

“2013 is going to be pivotal. This many half-ton pickups coming to market is huge,” said Mark Williams, editor at PickupTrucks.com, a Cars.com website.

“For the past four or five years, we haven’t seen many exciting changes. Buyers have been tight with their money, but the indicators show that something is changing. People are ready to buy a new vehicle,” Williams said.

There’s a built-in demand for a vehicle that will get the job done, but buyers expect more than just torque and tow ratings. They want a tough truck that rides like a posh car equipped with standards like premium stereos, Bluetooth technology and leather interiors.

With gas prices headed nowhere but north, manufacturers are smartly engineering a new breed of fuel-efficient engines to give buyers more bang for their buck.

In 2013 and beyond, the highly competitive pickup market will see exciting redesigns and likely increased sales.

Here are a few trucks to sit up and take notice of.

2013 Ram 1500

Earning raves and Truck of the Year honors from Motor Trend and the Detroit auto show, the leaner, meaner 2013 Ram 1500 has been significantly redesigned and upgraded.

The biggest news is a new light-duty diesel V-6 engine making the Ram 1500 the only half-ton pickup to offer a small turbo diesel as one of its engine options. The new Pentastar V-6 engine delivers 42 percent more horsepower and 13 percent more torque than the previous engine along with impressive ratings of 18/25 mpg city/highway.

While the 2013 Ram 1500 is still unmistakably a Ram, it sports cosmetic changes such as a new lineup of grilles and a new front bumper, a roomier interior, top-of-the line hands-free mobile phone operation, HD radio and a rearview camera that comes standard. Bigger news is the introduction of an air suspension system that compensates for varying loads from one to five passengers and improves fuel efficiency.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

After a wait of more than seven years, brand-loyal GM drivers are longing to get their hands on the completely redesigned 2014 Chevy Silverado, which should be available in early fall.

When the curtain came up on the 2014 Silverado, expectant buyers were introduced to a brand new family of engines, a 4.3-liter V-6, a 5.3-liter V-8 and 6.2-liter V-8, promising power paired with better fuel economy.

On the outside, the Silverado features improvements to minimize drag and wind noise for what Chevy promises will be one of the quietest cabins on the market. And to appeal to the family market, four-door crew cabs now come with more space and more comfortable car-like interiors.

2014 Toyota Tundra

With a bolder, more aggressive look, the third generation 2014 Toyota Tundra brings to market a cosmetic redesign meant to appeal to the luxury buyers. With no structural changes to the frame, chassis or three existing powertrains, the 2014 Tundra grabs attention with stylish improvements and an updated interior. A more integrated design gives drivers better access to audio and climate controls, a modern instrument panel and center-mounted multidata display screen. 2014 will bring Toyota an edge in the luxury market with two new high-end models and five trim levels each with its own unique front grille.